WOW! Very cool! Lots to respond to - great! Thanks everyone.
Romy,
Quote:
And THAT would frighten me about this bridle. Not that he does ramener in it, but that he doesn´t do it in a headstall without leverage, but then suddenly does it in this bridle. If you want to work on ramener, what about teaching it by targetting your hand under his chin (paired with some sort of body or voice cue) instead? But I guess that again I am moving away from what you were asking about.
You're not moving away from what I'm searching for, even though it initially appears to be off-topic. I did try to teach ramener in a headstall (hand on poll, hand on nose, stroke neck, etc.) but ended up with "nose at knee level"
and chin-target attempts have resulted in neck-muscle crunching
but both of those have other benefits, so our communication is still not where very clear. I have noticed before on other things that Freckles appears to need me to "physically manipulate" him once or twice to show him what I'm asking, and then he does it readily. Getting that first "correct response" is difficult, however. So I'm looking for a way to communicate better as well as a way to ride without a bit.
Quote:
Thinking about this discussion (and the last one) a little bit, there is one question that I have: Why do you want to go bitless? Sorry if this sounds strange, I don´t mean to. I just think that the answer to this question could be essential for your choice of a bridle.
Before I found AND I didn't know that bits were painful for horses. Having that knowledge means I cannot, in good concience, continue to use one. That defines Freckle's "comfort-zone." Rightly or wrongly I believe that educating a horse is a combination of groundwork and riding, so I don't want to stop riding. I am familiar with using a bit to communicate with a horse when riding. That defines my "comfort-zone." (Obviously, the seat, balance, legs and weight distribution of the rider are equally (if not more) important - that's a whole discussion by itself and I am studying and improving.) I am searching for a bitless bridle that gives me the "feel" I know, as well as being good for Freckles.
Barbara,While I've got this noseband for testing, I intend to feel it at all the possible settings - The instructions say that using more leverage on a green horse keeps them responsive to lighter hands while they learn. They emphasise the need for sensitive rein-handling many times. The article about the bolter didn't say it, but I think the LG used there had shanks attached to increase the leverage even more
Hahaha, I have been reducing his flight distance on the ground, and it is translating to ridden without any further effort!
Ummmm ... I'm thinking aloud here, but that fact that it's designed for control doesn't neccessarily make it harsh or unacceptable. A measure of control is required for the safety of the horse and the human. As the relationship improves, the control moves from the tools to the emotions, but that is fostered by sensitive use of certain tools? Or something like that, anyway!
Rita and Melanie,My bridle is leather, but these LG nosebands are synthetic! I don't actuaully have a preference. Leather needs more care, but synthetics are more difficult to dispose of ecologically, so I guess there's pro's and cons for both! BTW, I have one synthetic and one leather saddle, too! Purely coincidental!
Tanja,I can't use a rope-halter - he hates them. I tried!
Miriam,Quote:
I think the ramener was caused by the arrangement of the straps in the picture, which is going more for the leverage-action (reins placed further forwards).
Yes, it was. That's what I liked. It's been difficult for me to "show" Freckles how to carry his head. This created some lift in the neck as well as a good break at the poll. Then I didn't release fast enough so he overbent, but that was my fault. I have been able to get the bend at the poll, and the raised neck, but never together. So I'm thinking this might ease the learning curve and we can end up using it as a side-pull. I still want to adjust the position of the band on the nose to maybe an inch or so higher - I have to punch extra holes in the cheek-straps to raise it! I don't intend to do much with it before that! Ouch!
About the pics - I was hoping to also learn if I'm interpreting his signals correctly and would have replaced them with a link after a day or so anyway!